Buckle

ABSTRACT

A buckle includes a female fastener and a male fastener. The female fastener includes a first body and an engaging structure. The engaging structure is formed on the first body. The male fastener is detachably connected to the female fastener. The male fastener includes a second body and a shaft device. The shaft device is disposed on the second body to be detachably coupled with the engaging structure. When the shaft device is coupled with the engaging structure, the first body can rotate relative to the second body.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/342,385, which was filed on Apr. 13, 2010, and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/281,383, which was filed on Nov. 17, 2009, and is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a buckle, and more particularly, to a buckle comprising a female fastener capable of rotating relative to a male fastener.

2. Description of the Prior Art

For a conventional infant holding device (e.g. a safety seat, a stroller and so on), it usually utilizes a buckle with a plurality of safety belts for stably holding a baby therein. In the prior art, the said buckle utilizes an elastic arm of a male fastener to insert into a slot of a female fastener in an interference manner, and utilizes the plurality of safety belts for holding the baby stably.

However, the said design often results in complicated structures between the elastic arm and the slot. Besides, a contour formed by the male fastener and the female fastener after assembly can not flexibly vary with the baby's body contour. Accordingly, it will easily cause the baby uncomfortable when the baby sits on the infant holding device. Furthermore, the said design generates a high-frequency clip sound when the elastic arm is engaged into the slot, so as to disturb a user in taking care of the baby.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the present invention provides a buckle comprising a female fastener is capable of rotating relative to a male fastener to solve the problems mentioned above.

The present invention provides a buckle for an infant holding device. The buckle includes a female fastener and a male fastener. The female fastener includes a first body and an engaging structure formed on the first body. The male fastener is detachably connected to the female fastener and includes a second body and a shaft device. The shaft device is disposed on the second body to be detachably coupled with the engaging structure. When the shaft device is engaged with the engaging structure, the first body rotates relative to the second body.

These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded diagram of a buckle according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an assembly diagram of the buckle in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing that an engaging pin is located at a releasing position in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing that a male fastener is separated from a female fastener.

FIG. 5 is an exploded diagram of a buckle according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a female fastener and a male fastener in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing that a shaft device is aligned with an opening of an engaging structure.

FIG. 8 is an assembly diagram of the shaft device and the engaging structure in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing that an angle is included between the shaft device and the engaging structure.

FIG. 10 is sectional view of a buckle according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Please refer to FIG. 1, which is an exploded diagram of a buckle 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The buckle 10 is preferably applied for a conventional infant holding device (e.g. a stroller, a safety seat and so on), and is connected to safety belts of the infant holding device for holding the baby sitting thereon stably and safely. As shown in FIG. 1, the buckle 10 includes a female fastener 12 and a male fastener 14. The female fastener 12 includes a first body 16 and an engaging structure 18. The engaging structure 18 is formed on the first body 16. In this embodiment, the first body 16 is substantially plate-shaped, and the engaging structure 18 has a first axial hole 20 and a second axial hole 22. The male fastener 14 is detachably connected to the female fastener 12, and the male fastener 14 includes a second body 24 and a shaft device 26. In this embodiment, the second body 24 is substantially plate-shaped, and a containing space 28 is formed on the second body 24 and an end corresponding to the containing space 28 of the second body 24 has a protruding pin 30 for being engaged with the first axial hole 20. The shaft device 26 is disposed on the second body 24 and is detachably engaged with the engaging structure 18. The shaft device 26 defines an axis 31 on an engaging pin 32. When the shaft device 26 is engaged with the engaging structure 18, the first body 16 and the second body 24 can rotate relative to each other along the axis 31.

More detailed description for the mechanical design of the shaft device 26 is provided as follows. As shown in FIG. 1, the shaft device 26 includes the engaging pin 32, an operating part 34 and an elastic element 36. The engaging pin 32 is movably disposed in the containing space 28 and moves between a releasing position and a locking position, so as to be selectively separated from or engaged with the second axial hole 22. Accordingly, the first body 16 can be separated from the second body 24 or rotate relative to the second body 24 by engagement of the protruding pin 30 with the first axial hole 20 and the engaging pin 32 with the second axial hole 22. In this embodiment, the operating part 34 is preferably a push button. As shown in FIG. 1, an outer side of the push button has a protruding portion 37 for a user to push conveniently. The push button utilizes a pin 38 to pass through its hole 39 and a fixing hole 41 of the engaging pin 32 for fixing to the engaging pin 32. The present invention can also adopt other similar fixing design, such as the operating part 34 being directly coupled with the engaging pin 32 without the pin 38. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1, a sliding slot 40 is formed at a position of the second body 24 corresponding to the containing space 28. The operating part 34 is movably disposed in the sliding slot 40 for driving the engaging pin 32 to move to the releasing position, so as to make the engaging pin 32 be separated from the second axial hole 22. The elastic element 36 is disposed between the containing space 28 and the engaging pin 32 for providing an elastic force to drive the engaging pin 32 to move toward the locking position, so that the engaging pin 32 can be engaged with the second axial hole 22. In this embodiment, the elastic element 36 is preferably a spring surrounding the engaging pin 32.

Besides, as shown in FIG. 1, a connecting portion 42 is respectively formed on the first body 16 and the second body 24 for connecting the safety belts of the infant holding device. In such a manner, by connection of the first body 16 and the second body 24 to the safety belts, the baby can be placed stably in the infant holding device.

More detailed description for disassembly and assembly of the buckle 10 is provided as follows. Please refer to FIG. 2, which is an assembly diagram of the buckle 10 in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 2, by engagement of the protruding pin 30 with the first axial hole 20 and the elastic force provided by the elastic element 36 to drive the engaging pin 32 to be engaged with the second axial hole 22, the female fastener 12 can be coupled with and pivotally connected to the male fastener 14. Since the buckle 10 is assembled to the safety belts of the infant holding device, the purpose of holding and protecting the baby sitting thereon can be achieved by the buckle 10. Furthermore, since the said design allows the first body 16 to rotate relative to the second body 24 via engagement of the protruding pin 30 with the first axial hole 20 and the engaging pin 32 with the second axial hole 22, the contour of the buckle 10 can flexibly conform to the baby's body contour, such that the baby can sit in the infant holding device more comfortably.

As for the disassembly of the buckle 10, please refer to FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing that the engaging pin 32 in FIG. 2 is located at the releasing position. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing that the male fastener 14 in FIG. 3 is separated from the female fastener 12. If a user wants to detach the male fastener 14 from the female fastener 12, the user pushes the operating part 34 from a position as shown in FIG. 2 to a position as shown in FIG. 3. As a result, the engaging pin 32 is driven to move from the locking position as shown in FIG. 2 to the releasing position as shown in FIG. 3, and is then completely separated from the second axial hole 22. At this time, the elastic element 36 is in a compressed state, and the engaging pin 32 is completely retracted within the second body 24. Then, the user can pull the second body 24 and the first body 16 outward relative to each other (as shown in FIG. 4). In such a manner, after the protruding pin 30 is completely separated from the first axial hole 20 so as to make the male fastener 14 be separated from the female fastener 12, the disassembly of the buckle 10 is completed. It should be noticed that the engaging pin 32 can recover from the releasing position to the locking position relative to the male fastener 14 by an elastic force provided by the elastic element 36 and then protrude from the containing space 28 of the second body 24.

On the other hand, if the male fastener 14 needs to be assembled to the female fastener 12 again, the user just pushes the operating part 34 again so that the said engaging pin 32 can be moved from the locking position to the releasing position (at this time, the elastic element 36 is compressed) and therefore be contained within the containing space 28. Subsequently, the user needs to insert the protruding pin 30 into the first axial hole 20 (as shown in FIG. 4), and then push the second body 24 to a position where the engaging pin 32 disposed in the containing space 28 is aligned with the second axial hole 22 (as shown in FIG. 3). Finally, after the operating part 34 is released, the engaging pin 32 can recover from the releasing position in FIG. 3 to the locking position in FIG. 2 by an elastic force provided by the compressed elastic element 36 and then be engaged with the second axial hole 22, so that the assembly of the buckle 10 is completed. In such a manner, by engagement of the protruding pin 30 with the first axial hole 20 and the engaging pin 32 with the second axial hole 22, the female fastener 12 can be pivotally connected to the male fastener 14. Since the buckle 10 is assembled to the safety belts of the infant holding device, the purpose of holding and protecting the baby sitting thereon can be achieved by the buckle 10.

Next, please refer to FIG. 5, which is an exploded diagram of a buckle 100 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, the buckle 100 includes a female fastener 102 and a male fastener 104. The female fastener 102 includes a first body 106 and an engaging structure 108. The male fastener 104 includes a second body 110 and a shaft device 112. More detailed description for the structural designs of the engaging structure 108 and the shaft device 112 is provided as follows. Please refer to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the female fastener 102 and the male fastener 104 in FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the engaging structure 108 and the shaft device 112 are respectively formed on the first body 106 and the second body 110. In this embodiment, the engaging structure 108 is preferably a hook, and the shaft device 112 is a preferably elliptical-section shaft (as shown in FIG. 6) for being matched with the engaging structure 108. The engaging structure 108 is used for being rotatably coupled with the shaft device 112, and has an opening 114. Via cooperating the elliptical shape of the shaft device 112 with the opening 114, the shaft device 112 is incapable of being detached from the opening 114 so that the shaft device 112 can be coupled with the engaging structure 108.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5, a connecting portion 116 is respectively formed on the first body 106 and the second body 110 for connecting to the safety belts of the infant holding device. In such a manner, since the first body 106 and the second body 110 are connected to the safety belts, the baby can be placed stably in the infant holding device.

More detailed description for assembly and disassembly of the buckle 100 is provided as follows. First, for the assembly of the buckle 100, please refer to FIG. 5, FIG. 6, FIG. 7 and FIG. 8. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing that the shaft device 112 is aligned with the opening 114 of the engaging structure 108. FIG. 8 is an assembly diagram of the shaft device 112 and the engaging structure 108 in FIG. 7. If the user wants to get the male fastener 104 and the female fastener 102 be coupled to each other, an angle needs to be formed between the male fastener 104 and the female fastener 102 so as to make a minor axis of the shaft device 112 (i.e. the thinnest structure of the shaft device 112) face the opening 114 of the engaging structure 108 (as shown in FIG. 7). Then, the user pulls the female fastener 102 and the male fastener 104 outward relative to each other, so as to make the shaft device 112 be coupled with the engaging structure 108 in a manner that the thinnest structure of the shaft device 112 passes through the opening 114 (as shown in FIG. 8). Finally, the user needs to rotate the female fastener 102 to be parallel to the male fastener 104 so that the female fastener 102 and the male fastener 104 can be substantially located on the same plane. As a result, the engaging structure 108 can be matched with the shaft device 112. At this time, since a major axis of the shaft device 112 faces the opening 114, the shaft device 112 is incapable of being detached from the opening 114 so as to complete the assembly of the buckle 100. In such a manner, by engagement of the engaging structure 108 with the shaft device 112, the female fastener 102 is pivotally connected to the male fastener 104. Since it assembles the safety belts of the infant holding device, the purpose of holding and protecting the baby sitting thereon can be achieved by the buckle 100.

Furthermore, since the said design allows the first body 106 to rotate relative to the second body 110 via engagement of the engaging structure 108 with the shaft device 112, the contour of the buckle 100 can also flexibly conform to the baby's body contour, such that the baby can sit in the infant holding device more comfortably.

For the disassembly of the buckle 100, please refer to FIG. 9, which is a diagram showing that an angle is included between the shaft device 112 and the engaging structure 108. If the user wants to disengage the male fastener 104 from the female fastener 102, the user pulls one of the female fastener 102 and the male fastener 104 to form the angle relative to the one as shown in FIG. 9 so as to make the minor axis of the shaft device 112 (i.e. the thinnest structure of the shaft device 112) face the opening 114 of the engaging structure 108. Then, the user needs to push the male fastener 104 or the female fastener 102 to detach the shaft device 112 from the engaging structure 108 smoothly in a manner that the thinnest structure of the shaft device 112 passes through the opening 114. Accordingly, the disassembly of the buckle 100 is completed.

It should be noticed that the engagement design for the female fastener 102 and the male fastener 104 is not limited to the said embodiment. For example, the present invention can adopt a convex-concave design instead to make the shaft device 112 capable of passing through the opening 114 more smoothly and avoid the shaft device 112 being loose from the opening 114 during rotation of the first body 106 relative to the second body 110. For example, please refer to FIG. 10, which is sectional view of a buckle 200 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Components both mentioned in the third embodiment and the said embodiments represent components with similar functions and structures. The main difference between the buckle 200 and the buckle 100 is the structural designs of the engaging structure and the shaft device. As shown in FIG. 10, the shaft device 112 can be a circular-section shaft or an elliptical-section shaft as illustrated in the previous embodiment. A first stopper 202 is formed at a position of the engaging structure 108 corresponding to the opening 114, and a second stopper 204 is formed at a position of the shaft device 112 corresponding to the first stopper 202. In this embodiment, the first stopper 202 is a protruding structure, and the second stopper 204 is a recessed structure. The recessed structure is used for receiving the protruding structure such that the protruding structure is capable of matching with the recessed structure. Thus, the situation can be further avoided that the shaft device 112 is incapable of passing through the opening 114 due to excessive interference during the male fastener 104 is coupled with the female fastener 102. In other words, when assembling the female fastener 102 to the male fastener 104, an angle needs to be formed between the female fastener 102 and the male fastener 104, meaning that the shaft device 112 needs to be rotated to a position where the recessed structure faces the protruding structure of the engaging structure 108. Accordingly, via matching between the recessed structure and the protruding structure, the shaft device 112 passes through the opening 114 of the engaging structure 108 more smoothly.

In addition, after the shaft device 112 is engaged with the engaging structure 108, the said protruding structure can further prevent the first body 106 from being loose from the second body 110. In other words, after the shaft device 112 passes through the opening 114, the female fastener 102 and the male fastener 104 can be rotated to be parallel to each other, meaning that the first body 106 and the second body 110 are substantially located on the same horizontal plane. At this time, the shaft device 112 can not be separated from the opening 114 since the protruding structure narrows the opening 114 to be less than a width of the shaft device 112. Furthermore, the matching design for the shaft device 112 and the engaging structure 108 is not limited to the design as shown in FIG. 10. The present invention can adopt other matching design commonly seen in the prior art. For example, the first stopper 202 can be a tooth-shaped structure, and the second stopper 204 can be changed to a corresponding tooth-shaped structure. That is, they need to match with each other to make the shaft device 112 capable of passing through the opening 114.

Compared with the prior art, the female fastener can be rotated relative to the male fastener. In such a manner, by the simple design for engagement and rotation of the male and female fasteners, the buckle provided by the present invention can not only have a more simplified structure, but also flexibly conform to the baby's body contour since the male and female fasteners can rotate relative to each other. Accordingly, the baby can sit in the infant holding device more comfortably. In addition, since the present invention adopts engagement of the shaft device with the axial hole, or engagement of the hook with the shaft device, the present invention can further prevent a high-frequency clip sound so as to make the buckle more friendly in operating.

Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims. 

1. A buckle for an infant holding device, the buckle comprising: a female fastener comprising: a first body; and an engaging structure formed on the first body; and a male fastener detachably connected to the female fastener, the male fastener comprising: a second body; and a shaft device disposed on the second body to be detachably coupled with the engaging structure, the first body being rotatable relative to the second body when the shaft device is coupled with the engaging structure.
 2. The buckle of claim 1, wherein the shaft device defines an axis, and the first body is rotatable relative to the second body about the axis.
 3. The buckle of claim 1, wherein the shaft device comprises an engaging pin movably disposed on the second body, and the engaging pin can move relative to the second body between a releasing position and a locking position so as to be selectively separated from or engaged with the engaging structure of the female fastener.
 4. The buckle of claim 3, wherein a containing space is formed on the second body, and the engaging pin is movably disposed in the containing space and elastically protrudes from the containing space so as to be engaged with the engaging structure of the female fastener.
 5. The buckle of claim 4, wherein the engaging structure of the female fastener has a first axial hole and a second axial hole, an end of the male fastener corresponding to the containing space has a protruding pin for being engaged with the first axial hole, and the shaft device comprises: the engaging pin; an operating part connected to the engaging pin for driving the engaging pin to move; and an elastic element disposed between the containing space and the engaging pin, for providing an elastic force to drive the engaging pin toward the locking position so as to be engaged with the second axial hole.
 6. The buckle of claim 5, wherein the elastic element is a spring.
 7. The buckle of claim 5, wherein a sliding slot is formed at a position of the second body corresponding to the containing space, and the operating part is a push button movably disposed in the sliding slot.
 8. The buckle of claim 7, wherein an outer side of the push button has a protruding portion.
 9. The buckle of claim 5, wherein the operating part is fixed to the engaging pin by a pin.
 10. The buckle of claim 1, wherein the engaging structure is a hook for being coupled with the shaft device.
 11. The buckle of claim 10, wherein the shaft device has an elliptical cross-section.
 12. The buckle of claim 11, wherein the hook has an opening, and the shaft device passes through the opening in a manner that a minor axis of the shaft device faces the opening of the hook, so that the shaft can be separated from or coupled with the hook.
 13. The buckle of claim 10, wherein the hook has an opening, the shaft device is capable of passing through the opening when an angle is formed between the male fastener and the female fastener, and the shaft device is incapable of passing through the opening when the male fastener is substantially parallel to the female fastener.
 14. The buckle of claim 10, wherein the hook has an opening for the shaft device to pass through, a first stopper is formed at a position of the hook corresponding to the opening, a second stopper for matching with the first stopper is formed on the shaft device, and the shaft device is capable of passing through the opening when the first stopper matches with the second stopper.
 15. The buckle of claim 14, wherein the first stopper is a protruding structure, and the second stopper is a recessed structure.
 16. The buckle of claim 1, wherein a connecting portion is respectively formed on the first body and the second body for connecting a safety belt of the infant holding device. 